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<DIV><FONT size=4>Joan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>You make several interesting points about the </FONT><FONT
size=6><FONT face="Olde English">Wilson & Family's Cult & <FONT
color=#00bb88><STRONG>Cash Machine</STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT
size=4>. However, the reference to the gift of a truck by cult members to
the Cultmaster is a very telling one. It shows how unchristian the
organization and its starry-eyed flock is and how far they have hypocritically
wandered from the teachings of Christ in whom they allege to believe.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>What should be the object of a Christian's charity according
to the Gospels of Christ? The poor and the sick!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>But don't just take the word of a nonbeliever for it.
Below, with emphasis added, is a timely article by a religious professional from
the USAToday of March 12, 2006 discussing this same subject, albeit in a wider
context, and much more eloquently than I can.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Read it and draw your own conclusions not only about the
</FONT><FONT size=6><FONT face="Olde English">Wilson & Family's Cult &
<FONT color=#00bb88><STRONG>Cash Machine </STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT
size=4>but about some other area religious organizations. The subject of
this thread and the issue it deals with is a perfect opportunity for Christians
and so-called Christian organizations to demonstrate their commitment to the
major teachings of the Gospels.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Cheers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV><BR>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<BR><A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV>_______________________________________________</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Posted 3/12/2006 8:27 PM USAToday</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><SPAN class=inside-head><FONT size=6><STRONG>Not heard from the
pulpit</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV class=by-line>By Tom Ehrich</DIV>
<DIV class=by-line> </DIV>
<DIV class=intro-copy>Preachers and Sunday school teachers are pulling their
punches these days regarding morality. <FONT color=#0000ff>Our nation needs
ethical and religious instruction in the basics: honesty, fidelity, humility,
sharing wealth, sharing power and sacrifice. Yet those are the last topics one
is likely to hear in churches.</FONT> </DIV>
<P class=inside-copy>Instead, for more than a decade, preachers have been
grandstanding about such secondary issues as sexuality, Christmas greetings and
<STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000 size=6>institution-building</FONT></STRONG>.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>Consider the day in 2004 when former Enron Corp. chief Ken
Lay appeared in federal court to answer an 11-count indictment for fraud,
conspiracy and false statements. (Lay is on trial in Houston.) On the way to
court, he stopped by Houston's prominent First United Methodist Church to pray.
His pastor accompanied him when he turned himself in to authorities.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>Good gestures, to be sure, but how had Lay, a regular
worshiper and lay leader, gotten so ethically challenged? Some ethical guidance
clearly had gone unheard or unspoken. His church encourages "disciplines of
faithful living," but current Sunday classes sound the bell for
self-improvement, not sacrificial giving or courageous honesty in a world
growing accustomed to deceit.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>When WorldCom chief Bernard Ebbers began to feel the heat
of scandal, he stood before his friends at Easthaven Baptist Church, in
Brookhaven, Miss., and declared, "I just want you to know you aren't going to
church with a crook." A federal jury disagreed and convicted him of fraud. How
could a dedicated Sunday school teacher have gotten so off track? His church's
mission statement is about the institution's growth potential, not about living
decent lives.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>Attending church surely doesn't make one immune to ungodly
deeds? we are all sinners, after all? but churchgoers should be able to get
guidance on how to lead a responsible life, not reminders of church politics,
from the pulpit.</P>
<P class=inside-copy><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Jesus devoted roughly <FONT
color=#0000ff size=6>two-thirds</FONT> of his teachings to our need to give away
wealth and to value humility and servanthood more than power. Paul condemned
"love of money." Hebrew prophets spoke forcefully against greed, bribery and
injustice. The Law of Moses is concerned with basic ethics? respect for persons
and property, truth-telling, generosity and mercy.</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=inside-copy><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Yet, in the typical
congregation, it is safer to preach about someone else's sexual behavior than
about wise and faithful use of money, or on economic dislocation, corporate
ethics or widening gaps in the distribution of wealth. That's my conclusion
based on a survey of several dozen websites and posted sermons, as well as my
experience both as a preacher and listener.</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=inside-copy>One winning formula goes after themes that are minor in
Scripture but big in the culture wars. </P>
<P class=inside-copy>Consider Tom DeLay, often identified as a born-again
Christian, whose indictment for money laundering forced him to resign as
Republican leader in the House of Representatives. A recent sermon series at a
church with which he used to be associated condemned homosexuality, abortion and
gambling. But it ignored Scripture's more basic theme of honesty and mercy as
hallmarks of truth, and leadership as requiring people "who fear God, are
trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain."</P>
<P class=inside-copy>With rare exceptions, preachers of all stripes seem to
avoid what Jesus said about wealth and power. Instead, they preach about church
politics, upcoming festivals and personal improvement. </P>
<P class=inside-copy>Despite cascading corporate and political scandals, a
widening gap between rich and poor and mounting arrogance in public life, I read
hardly a word about honesty, integrity, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, kindness
or humility. </P>
<P class=inside-copy>I know how dangerous it is to venture into the nuts and
bolts of Christian ethics. People will endure sermons about esoterica such as
stem cell research or same-sex marriage, but they'll squirm when talk turns to
personal priorities, time spent away from family, wealth accumulation, casual
adultery or truth-telling. It is safer to lambaste gays than to tout Jesus'
model of embracing diversity. It is more profitable to back one political party
than to call all leaders to account for their behavior. A dull preacher will be
tolerated; an intrusive one will be fired. </P>
<P class=inside-copy>Our nation needs better from us. We don't need extremist
politics masquerading as Christian morality. We need solid and consistent
instruction in the basics of godly living. We can't hold churches accountable
for what parishioners refuse to hear. But we can hold them accountable for what
they shrink from saying.</P>
<P class=inside-copy><I>Tom Ehrich is an Episcopal pastor, author, teacher and
writer in Durham, N.C. </I></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=joanopyr@moscow.com href="mailto:joanopyr@moscow.com">Joan Opyr</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=the_ivies3@yahoo.com
href="mailto:the_ivies3@yahoo.com">Tom Ivie</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020 Moscow</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Friday, March 17, 2006 4:36 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] meals on wheels</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>On 17 Mar 2006, at 16:10, Tom Ivie wrote:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>This really sounds like a silent tragedy. I am surprised the
papers haven't done anything with this story. I don't think most people
realize the situations (physical, mental, social, etc. ) of the people who
benefit from meals on wheels. I hope for our seniors sake that this can get
resolved soon. Linda Pike is a real go-getter and if anyone can find a
workable solution, she can.<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I agree with you, Tom,
except for the part where you express surprise that this story has not been
covered by our local papers. That's the one piece of this whole ordeal that
doesn't surprise me at all. The Daily News has fallen to bits. While Ed Iverson
piddles away all the editorial board's credibility on the Op-Ed page, the Daily
News staff miss story after story after story. And what they do cover they
generally screw up. "WalMart Given Yellow Light By Moscow P & Z?" Was the DN
reporter attending the same P & Z meeting that everyone else attended? I
don't think so; I think their reporter was (once again) in a parallel universe.
You know, that universe in which Tom Henderson of the Lewiston Tribune bemoans
the fact that when George Bush breaks the law, Congress changes the law to make
Bush's actions retroactively legal. Meanwhile, Henderson's wife, Virginia,
argues on behalf of the Daily New that when Doug Wilson defies city zoning
ordinance not once, not twice, but three times, it is both wise and reasonable
for the city to set fire to its comprehensive plan in order to rewrite the
zoning laws to suit him. Fascinatin', ain't it?<BR><BR>Joan Opyr/Auntie
Establishment<BR>www.joanopyr.com<BR><BR>PS: I fear that while Doug screams
persecution, what he actually gets is special treatment. Say, do you think their
might be a connection? If I flash my ULC Minister's card around, will the city
let me run a meth lab in my chicken house? It sure would help me pay the
mortgage and, um, meth is part of my religious observance. Yeah, that's the
ticket! Yeah! And marijuana, too. I need a greenhouse and some grow lamps.
Anyone care to make a Church of Auntie Establishment tax-fraud-deductible "love
gift?" <FONT color=#ff0000 size=4><STRONG>Or perhaps buy me a new truck? You can
do that in my church just as easily as in Doug's -- and the truck doesn't have
to be new.</STRONG></FONT> In fact, it doesn't have to be a truck. I'm still
plumping for that 1968 Mustang Fastback, folks!<BR>
<P>
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